Sichuan Province Airport Group announced on June 1 that it had decided on the general design plan for the second airport of Chengdu after the final round of bidding.
The chosen plan covers the overall design of the new airport and the design of terminals and features a layout that resembles the pattern of the Sunbird, the logo of Chengdu, which has a history of some 3,000 years and represents the creativity and exploration of Sichuan people. Pan Gangjun, president of Sichuan Airport Group, said that the construction of the new airport is expected to start within the year.
The new Chengdu airport, with an investment of 69.3 billion yuan ($11.2 billion), will have three runways, capable of handling 40 million passengers upon its completion in 2020. The facility is 58km away from the city center, though will be reachable by metro line 18.
China is pushing to build facilities to manage its fast-growing aviation sector, as congestion at major airports lead to endemic delays and growing passenger frustration.
